MR. GRIFFITH AND THE DERBY REFORM MEETING. [To THE EDITOR
OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Gerard Street, Derby, July 3, 1866. SIR,—In the Spectator of last Saturday, June 30, there occurs the following sentence :—" Mr. Griffith appears to have called the aristocracy whores and murderers."
Permit me to say that so atrocious a calumny never passed my lips ; the thought never existed in my mind. It is true that I hold in no esteem nobility conferred by human patent or inherited by family descent. A title, however high-sounding, adds nothing, in my estimation, to the worth of a man. But to hold such an opinion of the class as is above expressed is too foully abhorrent to be for one moment entertained. Many of the aristocracy are men of the highest respectability, and as such are entitled to the esteem of every man of intelligence and virtue.
As you have been somehow misled as to my sentiments, I have no doubt that you will do me the justice of inserting these lines in your next issue.—I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
W. GRIFFITH.
*,* [We insert this letter with great pleasure. Our quotation was from a Sheffield paper, we think the Sheffield Daily Inde- pendent, but our reference is lost.—ED. Spectator.]
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